Insect capturing device and blank therefor

Abstract

An insect capturing device of substantially hollow construction comprises a generally rectangular bottom panel, a generally rectangular top panel, four side panels extending between the top and bottom panels, four generally triangular entrance ways formed at the intersections of adjacent side panels and the bottom panel, and four internal baffles each of which is disposed within the device and each of which partially obstructs an associated one of the entrance ways.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A blank for forming an insect capturing device comprising: a generally rectangular top panel;   a plurality of outer side panels hingedly connected to the top panel at the sides thereof;   a generally rectangular bottom panel, the corners of the bottom panel being removed;   a plurality of inner side panels hingedly connected to the bottom panel at the sides thereof;   a common side panel hingedly connected (i) at one end to the top panel and (ii) at the other end to the bottom panel; and   a baffle panel hingedly connected to one of the inner side panels, the baffle panel having a plurality of baffles hingedly connected thereto;   wherein the outer side panels, the common side panel, the bottom panel, and the inner side panels are configured such that four generally triangular entrance ways are formed at the intersections of adjacent outer side panels and the bottom panel when the blank of the insect capturing device is erected.   
     
     
       2. The blank of claim 1 wherein the baffles are configured such that each of the baffles partially obstructs an associated one of the entrance ways. 
     
     
       3. The blank of claim 2 further comprising a baffle tab hingedly connected (i) at one end to one of the inner side panels, and (ii) at the other end to the baffle panel. 
     
     
       4. The blank of claim 2 wherein the baffle panel is generally rectangular in shape and has a baffle at each corner thereof. 
     
     
       5. The blank of claim 4 wherein the baffle panel is smaller in size than the bottom panel, and each of the baffles extends beyond the baffle panel. 
     
     
       6. The blank of claim 5 wherein the top panel, the bottom panel and the baffle panel are generally square. 
     
     
       7. A paperboard carton formed from a single folded blank of paperboard material for trapping insects, comprising: opposed top and bottom substantially rectangular walls disposed in spaced parallel relationship;   opposed pairs of parallel side walls foldably connected to and extending between said top and bottom walls, said side walls being configured to form entrance ways, between adjacent ones of said side walls said entrance ways extending into said carton; and   generally planar internal baffles disposed respectively adjacent each said entrance way and the two side walls forming the respective entrance way, each said baffle being foldably connected to said bottom wall along a fold line disposed intermediate and generally parallel to the side walls in one said pair of parallel side walls and being inclined with respect to said top and bottom walls, each said baffle including an edge extending generally parallel to the fold line of said baffle to said bottom wall, said edge being disposed adjacent the foldable connection between said top wall and one said side wall whereby each said baffle at least partly obstructs the associated entrance way and guides the insects into the central part of the paperboard carton.   
     
     
       8. A carton as in claim 7 wherein said top panel is generally rectangular and wherein said carton includes four side panels extending between and connected to said top and bottom panels and four entrance ways formed between adjacent ones of said side panels. 
     
     
       9. A carton as in claim 7 further including a baffle panel disposed on the interior of the carton and in face-to-face contact with said bottom panel, said baffles being hingedly connected to said baffle panel. 
     
     
       10. A carton as in claim 7 wherein said entrance ways are generally triangular. 
     
     
       11. A carton as in claim 9 formed from a single blank of paperboard material.